All-in-One Solution for PDF Viewing, Annotation, and Workflow

As the Senior Product Designer, I spearheaded a significant UI/UX effort to upgrade Xodo, transitioning from a basic tool-oriented interface to a more cohesive and modern application. This project was part of a larger company rebranding effort and aimed at enhancing usability, making features easier to discover, and ensuring visual consistency.

1. Project Overview

Deliverables:

• Customer surveys and interviews
• Competitive analysis
• Wireframes
• High-fidelity Figma prototypes for JIRA tickets

2. Understanding the Problem

Legacy User Experience

Xodo had solid technology and capabilities, but the user experience felt outdated. The homepage resembled more of a utility menu than a dashboard, making it tough for users to quickly locate tools or grasp what Xodo offered beyond basic editing.

Rebrand-Driven Design Overhaul

In early 2023, Xodo’s parent company underwent a rebranding from PDFTron to Apryse, initiating a comprehensive UI/UX refresh across all products. It wasn’t just about giving the interface a new look; it was also about aligning the entire product experience with Apryse’s core values.

3. Process

To guide the redesign and pinpoint user needs:

• I ran surveys and interviews with Xodo users to get a grasp on their workflows and pain points
• Analyzed competing tools to see what the industry standards were and where trends were heading
• Worked alongside product managers and engineers to define features that matched business goals and tech capabilities
• Developed wireframes and interactive prototypes in Figma based on internal feedback and usability assessments

This approach made sure that the new design was grounded in actual user needs rather than just looking good.

4. The Solution

Modern Web-Based Application Experience

The revamped homepage rolled out several UX enhancements:

• A favouriting system for quick access to frequently used tools‍
• Search functionality to help users find tools faster and cut down on navigation time
• A streamlined layout that accommodates both free and premium (Xodo Pro) features
• Visual consistency with Apryse’s new design language using uniform components and interaction styles

A key challenge was figuring out how to clearly distinguish between free and Pro features. This involved close collaboration with marketing, product, and engineering teams to ensure upgrades were easy to find without being intrusive.

Current Metrics (as of mid-2023):

• 2M+ monthly active users
• 500,000+ weekly web visitors
• 20M+ mobile app downloads

Project Snippets